Chapter 480 Bloodstained Letter
Villain Ch 480. Bloodstained Letter
They exchanged wary glances, their brows creasing in response to the mention of the emperor and his subordinates. The implications were clear—this dark presence had assumed them to be culprits in some unknown scheme.
Bella vented her frustration. "Wait... Is that creature slandering us?! We didn't do anything for God's sake!" She jabbed a finger at the swordsman, her indignation palpable. "This is our first time here. This place is already in ruins from the beginning," she added, her tone a mix of exasperation and disbelief.
Vivian pondered the situation with her hand on her chin. "I think this has something to do with the game's story," she mused, offering a more measured perspective.
Jane, with a glimmer of amusement dancing in her eyes, brought her hands to her cheeks, forming a whimsical smile. "Oh my, is this a love story within the dungeon's history? So tragic, so sad, so beautiful," she mused, her words laced with a hint of irony. She couldn't help but find the dramatic narrative around them both captivating and absurd at the same time.
Shea chimed in, her eyes shifting towards Allen. "In my opinion, this is one of the game developers' methods," she noted, her voice thoughtful. "Or Emma, to fuel the players' enthusiasm by describing how some dungeons were created because of us." It wasn't lost on her that this might be a clever way to immerse the players in the storyline, by connecting the game's history to their actions.
Larissa offered her perspective as well. "It could be. That way, the emperor and us could blend perfectly with several places' histories and quests," she speculated.
Alice, her voice laced with skepticism, questioned the task at hand, her hands forming air quotes as she spoke. "Uh... simply, does it mean that we have to sort this all out? I mean, we were the ones who destroyed this facility, right?" She looked around at the ruin surrounding them, emphasizing the irony of their situation. "But we also have to tidy it up and pretend to be the heroes," she continued with a hint of amusement in her voice.
Larissa nodded in agreement, acknowledging the irony of the situation. "More or less," she confirmed, understanding the complex role they were now thrust into.
Allen chimed in with a sly grin. "This will be interesting," he mused, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.
"Why?" Zoe inquired, her curious eyes on Allen.
Allen considered the question thoughtfully before answering, "There must be a reason why 'we' were interested in this place before, right? I want to know what that reason was."
"True," Shea concurred, her gaze shifting to Allen. A mischievous smirk tugged at her lips as she teased, "If players will be interested in solving the quest in the hope of freeing the ghosts in this place, the amnesia villain should be even more interested in the reason why he attacked this place in the first place."
Allen's lips curled into a wry smile as he glanced at Shea. "Now you make me sound like the only bad guy here," he remarked, humor lacing his voice.
Shea's smirk only intensified, and she leaned in closer to Allen, her hand lightly brushing his cheek. "But isn't it true? Not really evil, though, but definitely the most sadistic among us," she purred in a sultry tone.
Allen's sly smirk matched hers, and his fingers trailed sensually from Shea's wrist to the back of her hand. His eyes locked onto Shea's. "I won't deny that," he replied casually, the unspoken chemistry between them electrifying the air.
Zoe's interruption drew both Shea's and Allen's attention. "Ehm!" she cleared her throat pointedly.
They turned simultaneously to Zoe, who stood there with a disapproving expression and her arms crossed. "We are in the middle of hunting," she reminded them.
Shea and Allen exchanged glances as they realized they had been momentarily distracted. Zoe's words served as a reminder. "You're right," Allen admitted, retracting his hand from Shea. It was clear that they were a bit carried away. "Thanks for the reminder. Let's get back to it," he said, refocusing on the game.
Shea couldn't help but pout a bit and cast a glance at Zoe, who was wearing a triumphant smile.
Descending into the dungeon through the massive hole, they reached level three. The eerie atmosphere had intensified, and the ambient sounds of howls and grunts filled the air. The ruins, much like the previous levels, were in a state of disrepair, but now they were marred by bloodstains, creating a gruesome contrast. The group exchanged uneasy glances, realizing that their journey into this mysterious dungeon was about to take a darker and more perilous turn.
And what set this level apart were the eerie creatures that roamed the area.
On this level, they encountered ghostly apparitions that resembled second-tier class players. Among these spectral foes, they faced off against ethereal figures that took on the forms of Ghost Assassins, Paladins, Knights, Priests, Hunters, and more. These ghostly adversaries bore an uncanny resemblance to the warriors who had once occupied the facility or the players, and their presence only added to the eerie atmosphere of the dungeon.
Allen and the girls opted for a more cautious approach. Their previous experience with a massive horde of monsters at the entrance had taught them the importance of moving carefully. They didn't want to become overwhelmed by a large mob of enemies once again. This time, they aimed to engage smaller groups of ten to fifteen monsters at most, preferably even fewer. With their skills and teamwork, dealing with smaller groups was a more manageable and strategic way to navigate through the eerie ruins of the dungeon. Each step they took was measured and calculated, ensuring they maintained control over the encounters they faced, allowing them to adapt and strategize efficiently.
They ventured further and fought their way through groups of ghostly monsters, dispatching them with skill and precision. The atmosphere in the chamber became increasingly oppressive as they made their way towards the center. Their determination to explore every corner of the dungeon drove them forward, even in the face of eerie howls and unsettling grunts.
In the heart of the third level chamber, they discovered a peculiar sight that drew their attention. An ominous-looking sword was thrust into the ground, standing tall and imposing, with a skull perched on top, adorned in a swordsman's uniform. It was a stark contrast to the surrounding desolation, and its eerie appearance sent a shiver down their spines. The skull seemed to mock them as they approached it.
Curiosity piqued, they cautiously drew closer to this bizarre spectacle, ready for anything that might transpire as they reached the central point of this mysterious dungeon level.
Allen couldn't tear his gaze away from the peculiar necklace hanging around the skull's neck. The necklace emitted a soft, mysterious glow, as if it held secrets that beckoned him to investigate further. With a mixture of curiosity and trepidation, he carefully reached out and took hold of the pendant.
The pendant was surprisingly cold to the touch, sending a chill through his fingers. Allen felt a faint, almost imperceptible pulse of energy emanating from the pendant. He turned it over in his hand, scrutinizing every detail, and found a carving there.
"Lucy & Robert"
Allen held the necklace and glanced at the skull with its eerie presence. He cleared his throat before addressing the group, "This is the swordsman's corpse. The pendant is undoubtedly significant, but it's hard to say exactly what it does or when it might come into play."
Jane speculated, "Maybe the swordsman's corpse will spring back to life or something dramatic like that. It's like a plot twist!"
Vivian chimed in with a sly smile, teasing, "Well, Jane, that kind of 'unpredictable' twist is usually your domain. So, don't look at me."
Jane blinked in puzzlement and inquired, "Wait, what do you mean?"
In a playful tone, Vivian explained, " Well, you are the one with the Necromancy skills, aren't you? You know, necromancers are usually the ones who resurrect the dead in all those stories. So, if anyone's going to pull off a resurrection, it would be you, right?"
Jane let out a light chuckle, realizing Vivian's teasing. "I see your point. But even I can't do the impossible. This guy is long gone," she replied.
Shea's encouraging words lingered in the air. "There's no harm in trying," she reiterated, her tone filled with curiosity and a touch of excitement.
Jane's interest piqued. She turned her attention back to the skull, her eyes focused on it. "So, I just need to use my Necromancy skills on him, right?" she asked, her hand hovering over the skull as she prepared to channel her dark arts.
Before Jane could attempt the skill, Allen interjected with a thoughtful suggestion. "I think it has something to do with the letter," he conjectured, his gaze locked onto the skull. With a fluid motion, he summoned his inventory and extracted the bloodstained letter once more.
Much to their amazement, the letter responded to the skull's presence in a remarkable way.
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